Tom Emmer chosen as Speaker nominee by House Republicans.
Republicans Struggle to Fill Leadership Vacuum in House of Representatives
Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives faced a challenging task on Tuesday as they selected Tom Emmer as their nominee for speaker. However, securing enough votes to guarantee his victory and end the leadership vacuum that has paralyzed the chamber for three weeks proved to be a difficult feat.
Emmer, currently the No. 3 Republican in the House, emerged as the nominee after a close fifth round of voting, defeating Representative Mike Johnson 117-97.
Yet, in a subsequent vote where he ran unopposed, Emmer failed to gain the support of 217 out of the chamber’s 221 Republicans. This high standard is set by the party to ensure they can elect a speaker on the floor if all 212 Democrats unite in opposition.
With two prior speaker nominees already rejected, the House has been left leaderless since October 3.
While some lawmakers expressed a desire to put their differences aside after weeks of infighting, others were hesitant to fully support the chosen nominee.
“If we’ve got a weak speaker, that’s not going to play well,” stated Ralph Norman, a member of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, before the final vote.
Emmer, who outperformed eight other Republicans vying for the nomination, possesses leadership and campaign fundraising experience that would typically make him a strong candidate for the position.
However, the party has already witnessed the failure of two leaders with similar skills. Kevin McCarthy was ousted as speaker on October 3 by a small group of Republican insurgents, and his successor, Steve Scalise, withdrew his bid the following week due to insufficient votes.
Last week, Republicans initially selected another hard-right leader, Jim Jordan, as their nominee, but he was later dropped after losing three floor votes. Some who voted against Jordan reported receiving death threats.
Neither McCarthy nor Jordan managed to secure the 217 Republican votes necessary for a successful floor vote. Scalise obtained the nomination with 113 votes on October 11, while Jordan received 124 votes in a subsequent nomination vote two days later.
‘Not Thrilled’
The ongoing infighting has left the House unable to respond to President Joe Biden’s request for $106 billion in aid to Israel, Ukraine, and U.S. border security. Additionally, Congress must act before November 17 to fund the U.S. government and prevent a partial shutdown.
This uncertainty has also contributed to an increase in the U.S. government’s borrowing costs, with the most recent fiscal year posting a record $1.7 trillion deficit, partly due to higher interest payments.
“Washington, D.C., needs a Republican voice right now. We don’t have one,” expressed Kelly Armstrong, a Republican representative. “That’s not anybody else’s fault but the Republican conference in the U.S. House of Representatives.”
Republicans currently hold a narrow 221-212 majority in the House, meaning they can only afford up to four defections on partisan votes. Last Friday, 25 Republicans voted against Jordan’s bid for speaker.
With Democrats united in opposition, Republicans must secure 217 votes of their own.
While Democrats have expressed openness to a compromise candidate that would allow the chamber to function, many Republicans have stated that they would not support someone who has the backing of the opposition party.
If the deadlock among Republicans persists, this stance may change.
“Every hour that this goes by, members get closer and closer to wanting to try unconventional approaches,” said Representative Dusty Johnson.
(Reporting by Richard Cowan, Katharine Jackson, David Morgan, Makini Brice, and Julio Cesar-Chavez; writing by Andy Sullivan; editing by Scott Malone, Shri Navaratnam, and Alistair Bell)
What are the consequences of the Republican Party’s inability to fill the leadership vacuum in the House of Representatives?
The inability of the Republican Party to fill the leadership vacuum in the House of Representatives has highlighted the deep divisions within their ranks. With the rejection of two previous nominees and the controversial selection of Tom Emmer, the party’s struggle for unity and effective leadership has become evident.
Emmer, currently serving as the No. 3 Republican in the House, emerged as the party’s nominee after a close fifth round of voting. However, he failed to gain the overwhelming support needed to secure his victory. With only 217 out of the chamber’s 221 Republicans supporting him in the subsequent unopposed vote, Emmer fell short of the party’s high standard for electing a speaker on the floor if all 212 Democrats unite in opposition.
The House has been without a leader since October 3, when Kevin McCarthy was ousted as speaker by a small group of Republican insurgents. His successor, Steve Scalise, withdrew his bid for the position due to insufficient votes. This prolonged leadership vacuum has hindered the functioning of the chamber and created uncertainty among lawmakers.
While some lawmakers expressed a desire to put their differences aside and support Emmer, others remained hesitant to fully back him. Ralph Norman, a member of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, voiced concerns about having a weak speaker. This reflects the broader divide within the Republican Party, with different factions pushing for their preferred candidate and lacking a unified front.
Emmer, who outperformed eight other Republicans in the nomination race, has leadership and campaign fundraising experience that would typically make him a strong candidate for the position. However, the failure of previous leaders with similar qualifications raises doubts about his ability to unite the party and provide effective leadership.
The party’s initial selection of Jim Jordan, a hard-right leader, as their nominee also sparked controversy. Jordan was eventually dropped after losing three floor votes. The divisive nature of the selection process was further highlighted by reports of some lawmakers receiving death threats for voting against Jordan.
The ongoing struggle to fill the leadership vacuum in the House of Representatives brings into focus the internal challenges faced by the Republican Party. Infighting and divisions have hindered their ability to present a united front and effectively govern. As the chamber remains leaderless, it is uncertain when and how this leadership vacuum will be filled. The Republican Party must address these divisions and find a leader who can bridge the gaps and provide the necessary guidance and unity within the party.
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